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Abstract:

A wipe, in particular a personal hygiene wipe such as a baby care,
feminine hygiene care, incontinence care, hand care or foot care wipe,
includes a composition including oxidized lipids as an odour control
substance. The lipids are oxidized under controlled conditions to have a
peroxide value of at least 20 meq/kg. The lipids are for example
triglycerides of fatty acids.

Claims:

1. A wipe comprising a carrier material to which a composition having one
or more of cleaning, skin care, odour control, or antibacterial effect,
has been added, wherein said composition comprises at least one oxidized
lipid having a peroxide value as measured by AOCS Official Method Cd 8-53
of at least 20 meq/kg.

2. The wipe as claimed in claim 1, wherein the oxidized lipids have a
peroxide value as measured by AOCS Official Method Cd 8-53 of at least 30
meq/kg.

3. The wipe as claimed in claim 1, wherein to said wipe has been added at
least 0.01 g/g of the oxidized lipids, calculated on the total weight of
the wipe.

4. The wipe as claimed in claim 3, wherein to said wipe has been added
between 0.01 and 15 g/g of the oxidized lipids, calculated on the total
weight of the wipe.

5. The wipe as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lipids are fatty acids or
derivatives thereof.

6. The wipe as claimed in claim 5, wherein the fatty acid derivatives are
esters of fatty acids.

7. The wipe as claimed in claim 5, wherein at least part of the fatty
acids and/or fatty acid derivatives are unsaturated.

8. The wipe as claimed in claim 1, wherein said oxidized lipids are
oxidized by treatment with ozone.

9. The wipe as claimed in claim 1, wherein the carrier material is
selected from the group consisting of a fibrous web, a foam, a net and a
film.

10. The wipe as claimed in claim 1, wherein the wipe is a personal
hygiene wipe selected from the group consisting of baby care, feminine
hygiene care, incontinence care, hand care, and foot care wipes.

11. The wipe as claimed in claim 2, wherein the oxidized lipids have a
peroxide value as measured by AOCS Official Method Cd 8-53 of at least 40
meq/kg.

12. The wipe as claimed in claim 4, wherein to said wipe has been added
between 0.1 and 8 g/g of the oxidized lipids, calculated on the total
weight of the wipe.

13. The wipe as claimed in claim 4, wherein to said wipe has been added
between 0.2 and 4 g/g of the oxidized lipids, calculated on the total
weight of the wipe.

14. The wipe as claimed in claim 4, wherein to said wipe has been added
between 0.3 and 3 g/g of the oxidized lipids, calculated on the total
weight of the wipe.

15. The wipe as claimed in claim 6, wherein the esters of fatty acids are
triglycerides.

Description:

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention refers to a wipe comprising a carrier
material to which has been added a composition adapted to fulfil one or
more of the following purposes: cleaning, skin care, odour control,
antibacterial effect or the like.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Odour control has become an important factor in personal hygiene,
especially in the urogenital area of persons wearing absorbent articles
like incontinence guards, sanitary napkins, diapers and the like. Odours
or unpleasant smells occur e.g. as a result of accumulation of bacteria.
These odours can be embarrassing for the user of absorbent articles. It
is important, therefore, to reduce or prevent odours from occurring in
absorbent articles, but also be able to clean the urogenital area from
odour substances and/or to prevent odour to occur.

[0003] Examples of odour substances that may occur in the urogenital area
of persons wearing absorbent articles are sulphur compounds, aldehydes,
indoles, amines etc.

[0004] Various methods are used to prevent or reduce such odours to occur
in absorbent articles. The methods are based on 1) masking of the odours;
2) a chemical reaction, for example in the form of neutralization, with
an acid/base system; 3) adsorption/absorption of odour substances
involving the creation of surfaces which exhibit a special affinity to
the odour substances or large specific surfaces/cavities which are able
to bind the odour substances concerned and thus to prevent them from
remaining in gaseous form, or 4) bacteria inhibitors which reduce/control
the growth of bacteria and associated odour substances that have arisen
because of high bacteria counts.

[0005] Perfumes or fragrances are used, for example, in order to mask
odours/smells. Maskers do not remove the smells and must be added in an
appropriate quantity to ensure that the smell does not penetrate or that
the perfume does not smell too strongly. Zeolites, silicone dioxide,
clays, active carbon and/or cyclodextrin, for example, are used for the
adsorption of odour substances. Some of these are susceptible to
moisture, however, which restricts their effectiveness. Sodium
bicarbonate, citric acid and/or superabsorbent materials with a low pH
are used for the neutralization of odours. Bacteria can generate
substances with an unpleasant smell, and copper acetate, a superabsorbent
material with silver ions and/or an acidic superabsorbent material can be
used to reduce the growth of bacteria. The above-mentioned odour control
substances are effective against different kinds of odours and act with
different mechanisms.

[0006] A number of odourants are hydrophobic, and such smells are absorbed
and/or adsorbed by hydrophobic odour control substances. Hydrophobic
odoriferous substances include, for example, certain organic acids,
sulphur compounds, aldehydes, indole, certain amines, etc., which
commonly occur in conjunction with the use of absorbent articles.

[0007] Previously disclosed odour control substances suffer from the
disadvantage, among other things, that they are difficult to distribute
uniformly throughout the whole of a carrier material, for example a
fibrous web. This is attributable to the fact that previously disclosed
odour control materials often consist of solid particles, which cannot be
distributed continuously over the internal and external surfaces of the
product and as such reduce the degree of coverage. The possibility of
trapping undesirable odours in an effective manner is reduced in this
way.

[0008] U.S. Pat. No. 6,479,150 describes material layers of thermoplastic
fibers with a hydrophobic odour control substance that is modified with a
surface-active substance in order to make the layer wettable. The odour
control substance is, for example, an aromatic odour control substance.

[0009] GB 1 282 889 discloses a deodorant composition comprising at least
one calcium, aluminum, magnesium or zinc salt of an unsaturated aliphatic
hydroxycarboxylic acid having at least 17 carbons. It is further told
that these metal salts can be combined with saturated aliphatic
hydroxycarboxylic acids and unsaturated aliphatic hydroxycarboxylic
acids. The saturated hydroxycarboxylic acids may either be naturally
saturated or derived from oxidation products of unsaturated fatty acids,
such as oleic acid, ricinoleic acid, linoleic acid and linolenic acid.
These unsaturated fatty acids upon mild oxidation lead to corresponding
pure hydroxycarboxylic acids. Pure hydroxycarboxylic acids have very low
oxidizing ability on other substances and a peroxide value close to 0
meq/kg.

[0010] Bacteria control is another important factor in personal hygiene,
both in the urogenital area but also in hand hygiene. Keeping a good hand
hygiene for avoiding the spreading of bacteria is especially important in
restaurants, in kitchens, in medical care premises, in schools, in day
care centers etc. For persons who need to wash their hands frequently
skin care is also an important aspect.

[0011] The need remains to develop a wipe, especially for personal
hygiene, such as in the urogenital area of wearers of absorbent articles,
hand wiping, foot wiping etc., said wipe fulfilling one or more of the
following properties: cleaning, skin care, odour control, antibacterial
effect or the like. The wipe may also be used for cleaning surfaces where
odour control and/or bacterial control is desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0012] The above defined problem is solved in the present invention by a
wipe, containing a composition comprising at least one oxidized lipid
having a peroxide value as measured by AOCS Official Method Cd 8-53 of at
least 20 meq/kg. It has surprisingly been found that lipids with peroxide
values of at least 20 meq/kg show a better odour-reducing ability than
lipids with very low peroxide values.

[0013] Preferably the oxidized lipids have a peroxide value as measured by
AOCS Official Method Cd 8-53 of at least 30 and preferably at least 40
meq/kg.

[0014] In a further aspect of the invention at least 0.01 g/g of the
oxidized lipids has been added to said wipe, calculated on the total
weight of the wipe.

[0015] In a still further aspect between 0.01 and 15 g/g, preferably
between 0.1 and 8 g/g, more preferably between 0.2 and 4 g/g and most
preferably between 0.3 and 3 g/g of the oxidized lipids has been added to
the wipe, calculated on the total weight of the wipe.

[0016] According to one embodiment the lipids are fatty acids or
derivatives thereof. The fatty acid derivatives are in a further
embodiment esters of fatty acids, especially triglycerides.

[0017] According to a further embodiment at least part of said fatty acids
and/or fatty acid derivatives are unsaturated.

[0018] In one embodiment said oxidized lipids are oxidized by treatment
with ozone.

[0019] In one aspect of the invention the carrier material is chosen from:
a fibrous web, a foam, a net or a film.

[0020] In a further aspect of the invention the wipe is a personal hygiene
wipe such as a baby care, feminine hygiene care, incontinence care, hand
care, foot care wipe or the like.

DEFINITIONS

[0021] The term "wipe" denotes any device for wiping, and in particular
intended to personal hygiene for wiping skin. The invention mainly refers
to disposable wipes, which means wipes that are not intended to be
laundered or otherwise restored or reused as an absorbent article after
use. Examples of disposable wipes include washcloths, patches,
towelettes, napkins, wet wipes, and the like.

[0022] The term "carrier material" denotes any material adapted as a
wiping material. Suitable carrier materials are porous materials capable
of holding the oxidized lipid in its structure and which also have
capacity to absorb substances which should be removed from the skin.
Examples of suitable porous materials are fibrous webs made of natural or
synthetic fiber or combinations thereof. Examples of fibres include
cellulose, regenerated cellulose (viscose, rayon, lyocell etc.), cotton,
bamboo, polyester, polyolefin fibers and mixtures thereof. Other types of
porous carrier materials in wipes are foams, nets etc.

[0024] By "oxidized lipids" is meant that the lipids have undergone an
oxidation process wherein oxygen has been introduced in the lipid
molecular structure. The oxidation agent is any agent, which leads to
oxidation of the lipid structure, e.g. oxygen gas, ozone or peroxides.
The lipids are oxidized under controlled conditions which means that the
substrate, i.e. the lipid has been oxidized to a degree wherein further
oxidation caused by autoxidation from contact with air is substantially
prevented. The lipids have been oxidized so that they have a peroxide
value as measured by AOCS Official Method Cd 8-53 of at least 20 meq/kg.

[0026] Triglycerides are commonly occurring in many natural fats and oils,
such as rapeseed oil, olive oil, maize oil, sunflower oil, palm oil,
coconut oil and butter, palm oil, cacao butter, theobroma oil etc. Most
of the naturally occurring triglycerides contain a mixture of saturated
and unsaturated fatty acids, while the proportion of saturated and
unsaturated fatty acids varies between the different oils. This
proportion is usually given as the quotient: unsaturated/saturated. The
unsaturated fatty acids may either be monounsaturated or polyunsaturated.
The most commonly occurring fatty acids in triglycerides are palmitic
acid, a saturated fatty acid, oleic acid, a monounsaturated fatty acid,
linoleic and linolenic acids, which are polyunsaturated fatty acids.

[0027] The composition of some common natural oils are given in Table 1
below, which is taken from Bailey's Industrial Oil and Fat products, vol.
1, editor: Daniel Swern, John Wiley & Sons Inc., New York, 1979.

[0028] Such oils and fats normally contain antioxidants, either naturally
occurring or added by a supplier, so that autoxidation caused by contact
with air is substantially prevented or delayed.

[0029] The lipids used in the present invention are oxidized by an
oxidizing agent. Examples of useful oxidizing agents are: ozone,
peroxides, oxygen gas, peroxy acids and nitrogen dioxide. For lipids
containing antioxidants more powerful oxidizing agents like ozone and
peroxides are required, but for lipids without any significant amounts of
antioxidants, oxygen or air, i.e. autoxidation under a sufficient time
period, may be sufficient.

[0030] The reactivity of different lipids is dependant on the number of
double bonds, i.e. the degree of unsaturation. Saturated lipids oxidize
very slowly while lipids with a high degree of unsaturation oxidize more
rapidly. The relative rates of autoxidation at a temperature of
100° C. of some fatty acids (not treated with antioxidants) are
found in Table 2 below and are taken from the same reference as for Table
1.

[0031] The oxidation should preferably be performed under controlled
conditions, so that after the oxidation process autoxidation is
substantially prevented. Preferably the oxidized lipids should have a
peroxide value as measured by AOCS Official Method Cd 8-53 of at least
20, preferably at least 30 and more preferably at least 40 meq/kg.

[0032] The lipids may be oxidized by any suitable method and by any
suitable oxidation agent, for example by ozone, mixtures of ozone/air or
ozone/oxygen.

[0033] At the oxidation process a series of peroxidic products may be
formed, such as hydroperoxides, ozonides, diperoxides, peroxides and
polyperoxides. Certain by-products may also be formed, for example
ketones and aldehydes, which are less desired. These by-products may be
removed by washing the lipids with a solvent after the oxidation process.
Alternatively volatile undesired substances may be removed by
evaporation, for example under vacuum.

[0034] It has according to the invention been shown that fibres treated
with oxidized lipids, especially ozonized triglycerides, have a
significant ability to reduce the emission of undesired odour compounds
that are frequently occurring in the urogenital area of persons wearing
absorbent articles. Examples of such odour compounds are dimethyl sulfide
(DMS), dimethyl disulfide (DMDS) and isovaleric aldehyde (IVA).

[0035] The amount of oxidized lipids added may vary dependant on the
intended use. For example in personal hygiene higher amounts of the
oxidised lipids may be used in the urogenital area, where it is an
advantage that the lipids remain on the skin, than in hand wiping, where
it may be desired that only small amounts of the lipids may remain.

[0036] The wipe can contain between 0.01 and 15 g/g, preferably between
0.1 and 8 g/g, more preferably between 0.2 and 4 g/g and most preferably
between 0.3 and 3 g/g of added oxidized lipids calculated on the total
weight of the wipe. The amounts may differ dependant on the intended use.

[0037] Upon use of the wipes the composition containing the oxidized
lipids is preferably transferred and delivered to the skin thereby
serving as a skin treatment agent, especially for odour control and/or
bacteria control.

[0038] The oxidized lipids may be distributed evenly throughout the wipe.
Alternatively, the oxidized lipids may be localized in specific areas of
the wipe, especially on the surface thereof, so as to be easily released
from the wipe and transferred to the skin The composition with which the
wipes of the present invention is impregnated may, in addition to the
oxidized lipids, contain one or more of the following components: a
viscosity regulating agent, a carrier for the oxidized lipid or an agent
for improving the adhesion of the composition to the skin. Examples of
viscosity regulating agents include polyethylene glycol (PEG) and
glycerol. Quaternary tensides may be used as agents for improving the
adhesion to skin. Other components which may be contained in the
composition are cleaning agents, skin care agents, antibacterial agents,
fragrances etc

[0039] The presence of oxidized lipids in wipes may also inhibit the
growth/activity of bacteria which in turn produce substances that are
able to contribute to a bad smell. The inhibition of growth/activity of
unwanted bacteria is also important for hygienic reasons, both in the
urogenital area, but also in handwiping. Frequent handwiping occurs for
example in restaurants, kitchens, in medical care premises, in schools,
in day care centers, industry, workshops etc. Besides the odour and
bacteria control effects, the oxidised lipids may also have a skin care
effect.

[0040] Other odour control substances can also be added to the wipe, for
example chitosan, starch-based odour control substances and esters. The
esters can be selected from among cyclical esters or esters selected from
among isomentyl acetate, isomentyl propionate, isomentyl isobutyrate,
isomentyl crotonate and isomentyl butyrate. The lipids may either be
oxidized before being added to the fibers or after addition. The ozone
may then at the same time act as a bleaching agent for the pulp, in case
pulp fibres are present in the wipe.

[0041] The carrier material used in the wipe should be chosen so that it
can hold the oxidized lipids in its porous structure and release it to
the skin when the wipe is used. It shall preferably also be capable to
absorb substances that have been wiped off the skin. Examples of suitable
carrier materials are fibrous materials such as tissue paper, airlaid
tissue and different type of nonwoven materials. Examples of nonwoven
materials are hydroentangled webs, spunbond, meltblown, thermobonded webs
etc. Further examples of carrier materials are foams, nets, films etc. In
the case of films the oxidised lipids may be applied between film layers
and exposed when separating the film layers from each other and/or
applied in formed recesses in the film.

[0042] The structure of the carrier material is important for its function
to hold liquid substances. A material that is especially suitable in this
respect is hydroentangled webs.

[0044] For a so called wet wipe a suitable fiber composition may be a
mixture of viscose fibers and polyester fibers, for example 70 wt %
viscose fibers and 30 wt % polyester.

[0045] A common fiber composition in other type of wipes is a mixture of
pulp fibers and polypropylene.

[0046] A suitable basis weight for a personal hygiene wipe is between 30
and 70 g/m2, preferably between 40 and 50 g/m2.

[0047] The size of the wipes may vary depending on its intended use and
how dirty the surface to be cleaned is. Examples of suitable sizes are
10×15 cm, 12×20 cm and 16×18 cm.

[0048] The composition comprising the oxidized lipids may be added to the
carrier material by spraying, coating and impregnation.

EXAMPLES

Ozonization of Oil/Fat

Trial 1

[0049] The ozone was generated in an Argenotox ozone generator, type GL,
Hamburg, operated at a voltage of 150V, an inlet oxygen flow of 63 l/h.
200 g of each tested oil/fat was treated during a time period of 2 h with
an ozone/oxygen flow of 0.061 g/min. The ozone concentration of the added
gas was 58 g/m3.

[0050] For the more strongly ozonized sunflower oil according to table 8,
having a peroxide value of 276.9 meq./kg, ozone was bubbled through 50 g
oil for 5.5 h.

[0051] The gas was bubbled through the oil which was contained in a vented
vessel. A magnetic stirrer was used in the vessel. The solid fats were
gently heated above melting temperature, after which the gas was bubbled
through the liquid fats. The tested oils/fats are those stated in Table 3
below.

[0052] The degree of oxidation was tested by determining the peroxide
value according to the test method AOCS Official Method Cd 8-53 Surplus
2003. The peroxide value for both the starting oils/fats and the ozonized
oils/fats was determined. The results are given in Table 4 below.

[0053] Sheets of sulfate pulp from Weyerhaeuser Inc., with the designation
NB416, were impregnated with a solution of the tested oil/fat in hexane.
To a pulp sheet weighing 10 g was added a solution of 4.29 g oil in 4.29
g hexane. The solution was evenly distributed over the surface of the
sheets. When the hexane had evaporated the sheets contained 30% by weight
oil/fat and 70% by weight pulp fibers. The treated sheets were defibrated
in a Braun multimixer MX32 to produce fluff pulp.

Analysis of Odour Reduction

[0054] 1 g of treated pulp was put in a 60 ml vial, after which 3.9 ml of
0.01 M phosphate buffered saline solution pH 7.4 from Sigma was added.
Then 0.1 ml PEG300 with DMS (dimethyl sulfide), DMDS (dimethyl disulfide)
and IVA (isovaleric aldehyde) was added so that the concentration of each
odour substance in the final solution was 1000 ng/ml.

[0055] After 3 h at 35° C. a SPME fiber (Supelco), 75 μm
Carboxen-PDMS, was injected into the headspace above the pulp and after
an additional 0.5 h the SPME fiber was analyzed with gas chromatography
(GC), Thermo Finnigan Trace, with a MS detector. The peak area of each
odour substance was determined for samples with treated pulp and the
untreated reference pulp. The GC settings were:

[0057] The tests showed that the ozonized oils/fats had a significantly
higher reduction effect on the odour substances than the corresponding
oils/fats that had not been ozonized. The odour reduction results are
given in Table 5 below. The odour reduction was determined by comparing
the peak area of the tested sample with the same peak area achieved when
testing the untreated reference pulp. The calculation of the odour
reduction in percent was made by the equation:

[0058] 100 g ethyl linoleate, technical grade achieved from Alrich, was
treated for 6 h with ozone generated with an Argentox ozone generator,
type GL, Hamburg, operated at a voltage of 150V and an inlet oxygen flow
of 63 l/h. The ozone addition was 0.061 g/min. and the ozone
concentration of the added gas was 58 g/m3. After ozonization, the
peroxide value was measured according to AOCS Official method Cd 8-53 and
found to be 237.4 meqv./kg.

Oleic Acid:

[0059] 100 g oleic acid, technical grade from Fluka, was treated for 5 h
with ozone generated with an Argentox ozone generator, type GL, Hamburg,
operated at a voltage of 150V and an inlet oxygen flow of 63 l/h. The
ozone addition was 0.061 g/min. and the ozone concentration of the added
gas was 58 g/m3. After ozonization, the peroxide value was measured
according to AOCS Official method Cd 8-53 and found to be 375.3 meqv./kg

Jojoba Oil

[0060] 100 g jojoba oil prepared from Simmondsia Chinensis and delivered
by Fluka, was treated for 5 h with ozone generated with an Argentox ozone
generator, type GL, Hamburg, operated at a voltage of 150V and an inlet
oxygen flow of 63 l/h. The ozone addition was 0.061 g/min. and the ozone
concentration of the added gas was 58 g/m3. After ozonization, the
peroxide value was measured according to AOCS Official method Cd 8-53 and
found to be 178.5 meqv./kg

Asolectin

[0061] 50 g powder of asolectin from soyabeens, achieved from Fluka, was
suspended in 150 g distilled water. Asolectin is a mixture of different
phospholipids. The suspension was treated for 2 h with ozone generated
with an Argentox ozone generator, type GL, Hamburg, operated at a voltage
of 150V and an inlet oxygen flow of 63 l/h. The ozone addition was 0.061
g/min. and the ozone concentration of the added gas was 58 g/m3.
After ozonization, the material was cooled down to about -20° C.
in a Tefcold freezer, type TFF370 and then freeze dried in an Edwards
Modulyo freeze dryer. After freeze-drying a dry ozonated asolectin powder
was collected and its peroxide value was measured to 382.2 meqv./kg
according to AOCS Official method Cd 8-53.

[0062] These ozonized lipids were tested for their odour reducing effect
on treated pulp in the same manner as under Trial 1 above. The only
exception in the laboratory procedure was the method for treatment of the
pulp with Acolectin. In this case the lipid was added as a dried powder
to the already fluffed pulp. The following results were obtained.

Tests with Different Amounts of Added Oils Having Different Peroxide
Values

[0063] Tests were performed with treated pulp to which had been added
different amounts of ozonized sunflower oil, 0, 3, 10 and 30% by weight
respectively. Two different ozonized sunflower oils were used, one having
a peroxide value of 65.6 meq./kg and the other a peroxide value of 276.9
meq/kg.

[0064] The pulp was treated in the following manner:

[0065] A sheet of bleached kraft pulp with the trade name NB416 produced
by the Weyerhaeuser Company was treated with oil dissolved in a suitable
evaporable solvent. The solution was poured onto 10 g of the sheet, which
absorbed the liquid and distributed the oil well in the fibre network.
The solvent was then evaporated by simply keeping the sheets at room
temperature for at least 3 h. The following solutions were prepared:
[0066] a. 0.31 g ozonized sunflower oil with a peroxide value of 65.5
dissolved in 8.27 g hexane. This addition means that the pulp sheet will
contain 3% oil. [0067] b. 1.11 g ozonized sunflower oil with a peroxide
value of 65.5 dissolved in 7.47 g hexane. This addition means that the
pulp sheet will contain 10% oil. [0068] c. 4.29 g ozonized sunflower oil
with a peroxide value of 65.5 dissolved in 4.29 g hexane. This addition
means that the pulp sheet will contain 30% oil. [0069] d. 0.31 g ozonized
sunflower oil with a peroxide value of 276.9 dissolved in 8.27 g acetone.
This addition means that the pulp sheet will contain 3% oil. [0070] e.
1.11 g ozonized sunflower oil with a peroxide value of 276.9 dissolved in
7.47 g acetone. This addition means that the pulp sheet will contain 10%
oil. [0071] f. 4.29 g ozonized sunflower oil with a peroxide value of
276.9 dissolved in 4.29 g acetone. This addition means that the pulp
sheet will contain 30% oil.

[0072] After evaporation of the solvent, the oil-impregnated sheets were
torn into pieces and dry defibrated in a Braun multimixer MX32. The
defibrillation was performed at maximum intensity until a fairly
homogeneous fluffed pulp was formed.

[0073] For comparison, a sheet of untreated bleached kraft pulp (NB416)
was defibrated in the same way.

[0075] These result show that such a low addition as 3 weight % of
ozonized sunflower oil can give a strong reduction of the added odour
substances and that the oil having the higher peroxide value gives a
stronger odour reduction. It can be mentioned that ozonized sunflower
oils having peroxide values above 1000 meq./kg are known in literature.
Therefore it can be assumed that an addition of much less than 3 weight %
of an oil having a high peroxide value can give an acceptable odour
inhibition.

Practical Odour Test

[0076] A practical sensory odour test was also performed in which the test
persons smelled at the samples from the above measurements after the GC
tests. The test persons opened the vials and smelled at the pulp samples
with added odour substances. The following results were obtained:

[0077] A spunlaced nonwoven with the trade name Fibrella 7160, available
from Suominen (Finland) was used in these experiments. This material,
which consists of about 60% polypropylene fibres and 40% rayon fibres,
has a basis weight of about 50 g/m2. Pieces with a weight of 1 g and
an area of 0.020 m2 were cut from the spunlaced nonwoven sheet.
These pieces were then treated with lipids. 2 g of the lipid was
dissolved in 4 g of either hexane or acetone and evenly distributed on
the piece of nonwoven. Acetone was used to dissolve all ozonated oils and
oleic acid while the other not ozonated oils where dissolved in hexane.
After several hours, when the solvent had evaporated, the nonwoven pieces
were folded and inserted into 60 ml vials, used for SPME analysis. The
vials were then flushed with nitrogen gas and sealed. The lipids used for
treatment of wipes are listed in Table 9.

[0078] Vials with a volume of 60 ml containing 1 g spunlaced nonwoven
treated with 2 g lipid were used in these tests. The laboratory procedure
was the same as earlier described when evaluating the odour reduction of
fluffed pulp, see page 10-11. To each vial was added 3.9 ml phosphate
buffered saline solution, pH 7.4 and 0.1 ml PEG300 with DMS, DMDS and
IVA. The total concentration of each odour compound was 1000 ng/ml.

[0079] Test liquid 1 was used for bacterial growth measurements: Sterile,
synthetic urine to which a growth medium for microorganisms had been
added. The synthetic urine contained monovalent and divalent cations and
anions and urea and had been produced in accordance with the information
in Geigy, Scientific Tables, vol. 2, 8th ed., 1981, page 53. The growth
medium for the microorganisms is based on two common growth media, Hook
and FSA medium for enterobacteria. The pH in this mixture was 6.6.

[0080] A homogenous mixture of fluffed pulp was prepared in the following
way (Method 1) Untreated and treated Weyerhaeuser pulp (NB416) was
weighed in desired proportions and put in Braun multimixer, MX32. The
pulp was mixed about 30 seconds.

[0081] Absorbent cores for testing were produced in the following way
(Method 2): Absorbent cores were prepared using a slightly modified
sample former according to SCAN C 33:80. Fluffed pulp of the desired
type(s) was weighed and a homogeneous mixture of the fluffed pulp(s) was
introduced into a flow of air having a negative pressure of approximately
75 mbar, through a pipe having a diameter of 10 mm and being equipped at
the bottom with a metal net. The fluff pulp was gathered on the metal net
and thereafter constituted the absorbent specimen. The absorbent core was
compressed to a bulk within the range of 6 to 12 cm3/g.

[0082] Two different absorbent cores were produced; the reference core
composed of 2.0 g untreated Weyerhaeuser pulp (NB 416) and the test core
composed of a mixture of 1.4 g treated Weyerhaeuser pulp (NB 416),
treated with oxidized sunflower oil, peroxide value 65.5 meq./kg,
according to the method described under "Treatment of pulp with
oils/fats" above (added amount was 30 weight % oil), and 1.0 g of
untreated Weyerhaeuser pulp (NB 416). The size of the absorbent cores was
5 cm in diameter.

The bacterial growth in the absorbent cores was measured in the following
way (Method 3):

[0083] 10 ml of test liquid 1 containing bacteria were added to a test
core placed in a sterile jar (Nunc sputum/organ jars, 100 ml), and a lid
was fitted on the jar. The jar was turned upside down and incubated in a
warm cabinet at 35° C. After incubation for 0, 6 and 12 hours, the
test cores were placed in a plastic bag with peptone water and the
content was homogenized (agitated and worked up) in a stomacker for 3
minutes. The homogenate was diluted in dilution tubes with peptone water
and a microbiological culture was spread on agar plates. Slanetz Bartley
agar was used for E. faecalis, and Drigalski agar for E. coli and P.
mirabilis. The specimens were incubated at 35° C. for 1-2 days
before the colonies were counted and the log CFU/ml calculated
(CFU=counted number of colony forming units). Control tests were also
carried out with reference cores

Test Results: Bacterial Growth

[0084] Bacteria were cultured in nutrient broth and diluted to the desired
concentration which had a logarithmic value of 3.3 in test liquid 1
(method 3). Absorbent test cores were produced according to method 2. The
bacterial growth was measured according to method 3.

[0085] The result is shown in Table 11, which clearly illustrates that the
growth of all 3 test bacteria is considerably lower after 6 and 12 hours
in the test cores, compared with the reference core. The table shows log
CFU/ml after different periods of time. Test sample means pulp containing
ozonized sunflower oil and reference sample means the untreated pulp.

[0086] Corresponding tests as above have been performed to test the effect
on growth of Candida albicans. A Test liquid 1 as described above was
prepared for the growth measurements. Fluffed pulp was prepared according
to Method 1 and absorbent cores were prepared according to Method 2.
However the oxidised oil was in this case oxidised sunflower oil having a
peroxide value of 276.9 mmol/kg according to the method described under
"Treatment of pulp with oils/fats" with the exception that acetone was
used to dissolve the ozonized sunflower oil instead of hexane.

[0087] C. albicans was cultured in Todd Hewitt broth to stationary phase
and diluted to the desired concentration of about 104 CFU/ml in test
liquid 1.

[0088] 10 ml of Test liquid 1 containing C. albicans was added to the test
core respective the reference core, which were placed in sterile plastic
jars, and the jars were covered with aluminum foil. The jars were
incubated in a warm cabinet at 37° C. After incubation for 0, 4, 6
and 8 hours, the test and reference cores were placed in a plastic bag
with 20 ml saline solution and the content was homogenized (agitated and
worked up) in a stomacher for 3 minutes (high speed). The homogenate was
diluted in dilution tubes with saline solution and the suspension was
spread on Sabaroud-dextrose agar plates. The plates were incubated at
37° C. 2 days before the colonies were counted and the log CFU/ml
calculated.

[0089] The results are shown in Table 12 below, which are mean values from
two test samples. The table shows log CFU/ml after different periods of
time. Test sample means pulp containing ozonized sunflower oil and
reference sample means the untreated pulp.

[0090] As can be seen from the table the growth of C. albicans was
strongly inhibited in the test cores and was already after 4 hours zero.

Examples of Wipes

Example 1

Wipe for Uro-Genital Care

[0091] 100 g olive oil (extra virgin olive oil, COOP) was ozonized
according to trial 1 to the peroxide value of 61.41 meq/kg. The ozonized
olive oil was washed by extraction with ethanol. The extraction was made
by mixing 100 g ozonized olive oil and 160 g ethanol in a beaker under
vigorous stirring. The mixture was then centrifuged in order to achieve
two distinct phases. The ethanol phase was removed and the ozonized olive
oil was further extracted 4 times according to the same procedure. The
total amount of ethanol was 5×160 g=800 g. After the last
extraction, the ozonized olive oil was treated at 60° C. in a
rotary evaporator for 3 h to remove traces of ethanol.

[0092] Tissue sheet (Fibrella 7160, 60% PP/40% Viscous, 50 g/m2, from
Suominen) with a size of 16×18 cm were sprayed with ozonized and
extracted olive oil to a final concentration of 1.5 g/g dry tissue.

Example 2

Wipe for Hand Cleaning

[0093] 50 g sun flower oil (COOP) was ozonized according to trial 1 to the
peroxide value of 276.9 meq/kg. The ozonized sun flower oil was washed by
extraction with ethanol. The extraction was made by mixing 50 g ozonized
olive oil and 80 g ethanol in a beaker under vigorous stirring. The
mixture was then centrifuged in order to achieve two distinct phases. The
ethanol phase was removed and the ozonized olive oil was further
extracted 4 times according to the same procedure. The total amount of
ethanol was 5×80 g=400 g. After the last extraction, the ozonized
olive oil was treated at 60° C. in a rotary evaporator for 3 h to
remove traces of ethanol.

[0094] Tissue sheet (SCA, Tork Premium multipurpose cloth 520, 70 g/m2)
with a size of 24×24 cm were sprayed with the ozonized and
extracted sun flower oil to a final concentration of 3 g/g dry tissue.